Dr John Chipman, Director General and Chief Executive, IISS
Your Highnesses, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen as you saw from the printed agenda, which I accept many of you only got yesterday, we are cracking on and moving to the first plenary of this Manama dialogue. We had a wonderful opening dinner last night and a truly special keynote address this morning. This is now the first plenary so the work is beginning to get harder. The first plenary is on the theme of regional security cooperation, which is a very important one. The IISS felt it essential to bring together for this first panel three important leaders from the region – of course our host from the kingdom of Bahrain, the foreign minister of the Islamic republic of Iran and our friend the minister of foreign affairs of Turkey, a country that has had in the past and is developing even more in the future a special relationship with this part of the world characterised by constructive engagement of many kinds. It will be important for us to start this plenary session pretty close to on time because we have, in the celebrated phrase, a rich agenda all before lunch. There is a plenary that will follow this one on regional conflicts in outside powers and a full programme continuing after lunch on the important themes of strategic reassurance and deterrence in the region and the changing international framework in regional security.
The form for this morning plenary is exactly the same as the ones in the past six Manama dialogues. Each speaker will make some formal remarks for about ten minutes and then will entertain questions. What is important about Manama is the dialogue element and all three of the ministers here present know that there are many questions that want to be asked of them and I will be looking to all of you to pose crisp and policy‑orientated questions that will evoke the kinds of answers that lead to a better understanding of what the policies are for regional cooperation and what the possibilities are for enhancing it. That is our theme this morning. Our dialogues are frank but they can exist if everyone keeps to their time and we have the discipline you have just so marvellously shown in entering the room and taking your seats. So with those remarks, which in America might be called a filibuster, I know formally open the first plenary session. We are delighted that the first speaker at this session is Manouchehr Mottaki from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the minister of foreign affairs. I would invite Mr Mottaki to take the podium and make his remarks. Thank you very much.
Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iran
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
My dear brother, the honourable Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid, Bahraini government, Mr Chaiman, your highnesses, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen: In the beginning I would like to thank this council's chairman and our honourable host. I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity granted to me for stating the Islamic Republic of Iran's views with regards to crucial transitions faced by the region.
My presence at the two international meetings on two sides of the Persian Gulf, one in Bandar Abbas and one in Manam in two weeks indicates the importance that the Islamic Republic of Iran gives to security, development and solidarity in our region. Due to its geopolitical and geostrategic position, this region has constantly played a crucial role in the international political, security and economic equations, and the scope of its transitions and incidents have had a transregional effect and have affected the international community. With this regard, the Persian Gulf has been like a strategic bridge and channel between Asia, Europe and Africa, and it has been the focus of attention of international policy. On the other side, the meaning of security has also changed in the current world. And security involves other aspects except the political, economic, culture, energy production and distribution, development, navigation and social aspects.
In pathology of the roots of insecurity in the Persian Gulf we are of the opinion that this region has always been taken advantage of due to its geostrategic and geoeconomic situation. Huge oil and gas reserves, other natural resources and consuming markets in the region have attracted world's attention, the global powers' attention for hundreds of years. But unfortunately, certain powers have taken advantage of the region's huge capacities and we are witnessing evil intentions of planned mischief with the aim of insinuating and institutionalizing certain problems and challenges in the region. Insinuation of religious and ethnic disputes, border conflicts, land disputes, drug trafficking, organized crimes, terrorist networks' activities, creation of extremist groups, presence of foreign forces in the region, insinuation of fear among the regional states, the escalation of arms race, prioritization of military issues and militarization, overshadowing development needs, environmental and other issues are some of the challenges which have affected the security and stability in this sensitive region of the world. This is while, solidarity among the regional countries, based on mutual historic, geographical, religious bonds and economic interests is the inborn quality of our region and it sets the ground for scientific, and particularly security cooperation among the regional countries.
Honourable attendants, security and stability in the Persian Gulf region are a global need and necessity, because this region is one of the world's major sources of energy. Considering the international economy's growing need and dependence on energy, security of energy extraction, supply and transfer is one of the basic concerns of the energy producers and consumers. Today's world is concerned about disruptions against any of the three aspects of energy, i.e. energy production, supply and transfer. Guarantee of energy production and security requires regional forethought and logical interaction based on spirit of cooperation among all the members of this process, whether consumers, producers, investors or those in possession of the technology.
Honourable participants, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always proposed the subject of communal co-operation in the Persian Gulf region and has expressed its readiness for negotiations and preparation of a suitable mechanism to reach this objective. I would hereby like to emphasize once more that a stable security in the region can be achieved through communal participation of all the countries of the region.
I deem it necessary to point out the significance of the twelve suggestions made by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s president, Mr Ahmadinejad, in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Doha. These suggestions are the most comprehensive regional approach for the region’s security. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that if the facts about the region and Iran will be well perceived then many of the matters which are propagated as regional challenges today, can be fruitful opportunities for cooperation and constructive interactions. And the international community will also benefit from political, economic and security interests from these interactions and solidarity. Therefore, we are of the opinion that providing security in the Persian Gulf region depends on observing the foresaid necessities and each country’s role. The regional formation can also be analyzed and evaluated within that framework.
1. Multilateral approach towards the security concept: Dealing with phenomena such as terrorism, ethnic tensions, organized crimes, etc, all require a comprehensive approach and macro cultural, social, political, economic and developmental planning. And the presence of foreign forces in the region, presence of military bases and escalation of armaments and military forces are not and will not be the solution to such security requirements. This region’s past history is a good proof for such an opinion.
2. To indigenize security: The best way of attaining security in any region is to create and enhance domestic mechanisms. Of course, these regional mechanisms should be based on sense of responsibility, cooperation and mutual trust among the regional countries, and within the framework of international rules and regulations. Any suspicion and sense of seeking priority by the members will not only weaken the effectiveness of the regional orders, but will be a pretext for the presence of transregional elements. Naturally, in a regional cooperative atmosphere, surrender to denial policies, isolation, pressure and mischief of scenarios designed by aliens will intensify instability and bring about a distance between close friends. It has been proved in our region that presence of transregional forces and their interference for causing an unhealthy competition and distortion of friendly and neighbourly ties among countries are the base of problems.
3. Avoiding imposition of contradictory patterns: One of the forgotten aspects in the process of globalization is the intentional disregard of the national identities and cultures of the regional countries. Peaceful coexistence in today’s transforming and complex world requires cooperation and interaction among cultures, religions and identities, and extraction of the world’s acceptable principles, while respecting the differences. Respecting others cultures, traditions and values is the requirement of coexistence and the base of mutual understanding. In our opinion, democracy has been developed based on values, culture, history and civilization of each nation and region and as per domestic characteristics. It develops, and persistence on a specific pattern with this regard would be unrewarding and lead to failure. Therefore, wrong equations and interference in social engineering of various regions of the world, and imposition, injection and generalization of contradictory patterns distorts stability and security and leads to disastrous results.
4. Paying attention to the role and status of the main players: Experience has proved that assurance of stability and security within any regional and international structure depends on understanding common interests and concerns, and presence and participation of all the members in mutual orders, where is a feeling of responsibility and they each play their necessary roles. Any imposed or discriminating behaviour in this regard leads to instability of these orders’ strength and constancy, and affects establishment of stability and security, and therefore, the nations’ progress, development and prosperity. As Iran’s old history and its new system, that is the Islamic Republic have proved, Iran has always defined establishment of national security and achievement of its interests in interaction with its neighbours. Of course, in the recent decades, a core element has tried to prevent endurance of ties among regional states by insinuating this view that the Islamic Republic of Iran has caused a separation between itself and certain other regional countries. It must be noted that we are not living in the seventeenth century’s, the European seventeenth century’s realpolitik era, where one country’s power led to another country’s weakness. Enhancement of one country’s power is just an opportunity for others because it makes them pursue more innovations and become more methodical and open more windows of opportunities and new horizons to themselves.
The Islamic Republic of Iran becomes very happy when it hears the good news about a common joint currency being discussed in the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, when Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical industry becomes outstanding at international levels, when women enter Kuwaiti and Bahrain parliaments, when Arabic countries' foreign currency reserve reaches three trillion dollars, and when Bahrain becomes an important banking centre. We also get very pleased when Iraq moves towards stability and its oil industry flourishes, or when in our eastern borders, in Afghanistan and Pakistan peace and security are established. To us power and politics is not a zero-sum game. We cannot judge like that. This is our most important challenge. We and the Arabic countries should make effort to consider enhancement of power as an opportunity and in the interest of the region. The European countries, after centuries of encounters and suspicions, finally reached this conclusion that interactions, and their advanced form that is solidarity is in the interest of all the members of the union.
In the meanwhile, there is a very determining fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran has the domestic capability of creating power in almost all fields compared to all other countries. We have never used and will never use this comparative advantage, this comparative advantage of ours against our neighbours. Particularly because our neighbours are Muslims and a Muslim should be pleased with other Muslims’ enhanced power. The genuineness of a country’s power lies in its domestic production capacity and protection. Our Muslim neighbours encourage the Islamic Republic of Iran’s national and local innovations and do not doubt them. Our growth sets the ground for others’ growth.
We urge our government and nongovernmental bodies and various institutes to cooperate with each other and try to have closer understanding. And let’s play an effective role in important processes. Shouldn’t it be our ideal to have Muslims establish coalition and union and help in each other’s communal development? Your power is our power. Our power is your power. We should not allow our impressions of each other be influenced by Western media. We have even proposed no visa requirements among Muslims. We hope that by means of negotiations on focal points we will be able to take a major step towards mutual understanding, and by finding a positive solution move towards achieving communal power and wealth for Muslims and reach progressive self-sufficiency and independence.
5. The main root of threat and insecurity in the region: Imposition of a fake and illegitimate regime in the Middle East, based on Balfour Declaration by the British government- with the excuse of consoling the hearts of the victims of World War II- which has occupied Palestine for the past six decades, and committed murders and aggressions, is the main security threat in this region. By conducting a simple survey you can find out about the opinion of the Middle East people on this issue. The Zionist regime has been repeating its threats every day merely by reliance on the support it gets from the West, and it denies any commitment for observing the oppressed Palestinians' rights. It stockpiles hundreds of nuclear warheads by the support of certain countries, and it killed the passengers of the Freedom Flotilla in the eyes of the world. Which resolution have you issued for condemning these crimes? Of course, the Lebanese and Palestinians have already found the path of reaching their lawful rights.
We urge the western countries to stop imposing unilateral solutions. And help in organizing a real referendum across Palestine and comply with the wish of its main residents whether Muslims, Christians or Jews.
Ladies and gentlemen, fortunately, today, the necessity of using alternative energies which cost much less and are more environment friendly has changed to a general belief. Signing of various contracts for building nuclear power plants in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey proves this new approach. The Islamic Republic of Iran realized this necessity years ago. There are two clear reasons why they imply there is a concern regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear activities:
1. Those individuals, who have propagated such lies for years, saying Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, do not have the courage to admit their mistakes and stop their propaganda, even though all the reports and supervisions carried out have proved them wrong.
2. They were expecting our region to consider alternative energies once its fossil fuel reserves were all sold out. Now that the region is standing by its right and has included the production of nuclear energy in its agenda, they insist on preventing us from total independence with this regard. The imposed article in agreements for building nuclear power plants based on transfer of fuel right, fuel production right is not only a scientific apartheid, but in fact, it is for having many tens of billions of dollars of investment in this field dependent on their political will.
I'm going to conclude my remarks here and if there will be any time during the question and answer session, there are other points that I would like to bring to your kind attention.
Thank you very much for your patience.
Dr John Chipman, Director General and Chief Executive, IISS
Minister, thank you very much. I have no doubt that there will be many questions to you and I only want to ensure that we had time for you to be able to provide full answers to those many questions.
